Bike trails near Cleveland - 5 great bikeways for long rides

The Cleveland-Akron area is home to dozens of bike trails. The paths listed here are built for long bike rides that provide an escape into nature.

I want to thank Century Cycles for providing me with a fitness bike rental to go explore these trails.

1

1

The Summit Bike and Hike Trail is an exhilarating stretch of paved trail that follows a defunct railroad path through mostly-forested areas. I started at the Brandywine Falls parking lot and rode for some quiet morning miles through the Boston Ledges and beyond.

The bikeway is 34 miles long and connects with the Cleveland Metroparks to the north and the Portage Park District Trail to the east. The trail takes you past natural features like Brandywine Falls, the Cuyahoga River and Silver Lake.

This is a paved trail that mostly runs through the woods, dotted by 10 trailheads. The southern end loops around and takes you through a neighborhood to connect two ends of the trail.

You could spend a whole day riding this bikeway. Keep an eye out for the private snack stand that a local resident puts out near Brandywine Falls.

2

2

The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is your portal to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This historic trail offers over 87 miles of bike path spanning 4 counties. The crushed limestone bikeway runs next to the Cuyahoga River, which provides beautiful scenery for hours.

One tactic I recommend is using the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's bike aboard program, which gives you the flexibility to cycle in one direction and ride the train back, or vice versa.